Folding bed.



1. BASILE.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION man 001,30. 1915.

1 ,www Pantedsept. 10,1918.

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JOSEPH BASILE, OF 'NEW YORK, N.- Y., .ASSIGNOR T0 GREENPOINT METALLIC :BED COM- PANY, A. FIRM OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, COMPOSED OF DAVID FRANK AND WILLIAM LIES, OF BROOKLYN, YORK, AND JOHN TROUNSTINE, OF N'EW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BED.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed October 30, 1915. Serial No. 58,766.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BASILE, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The invention pertains more particularly to metal beds or cribs for the use of babies or small children,'and the object of the invention is to produce a bed or crib of the character referred to having hinged side frames and sectional foldingl end frames, with accessory parts, adapting the entire structure to be very compactly folded so as to occupy the minimum amount of space when not in use.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct and arrange the several parts of the bed in their relation to each other that the bed may be very conveniently unfolded to a normal operative condition and have its parts, when in such condition, se-

curely held against any accidental occur'- rence which might otherwise tend to permit the bed sections to move to their folded condition. In the folding of the parts of the bed the two side frames fold over upon the spring or upon the mattress, if the same is on the spring, and the head and foot frames fold toward each other with theV lower sections thereof passing below the lspring and the upper sections thereof above the spring and upon the folded side frames, thus producing a compact structure occupying but little space and convenient of packing and transportation.

The invention made the subject of this application embodies further improvements on the folding bed or crib made the subject of my application for Letters Patent filed March 1, 1915, Serial No. 11,151, the present improvements pertaining more particularly to certain novel features hereinafter described having to do with the vertically slidable side frame and coperating parts, andthe said invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a crib constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the parts of the crib being shown by solid lines in their unfolded relation placing the crib in condition for use, and the lowered position of the slidable side frame being indicated by dottedlines;

Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with the parts of the crib shown in a partly folded condition, the side frames having been folded downwardly toward the spring and the end frames being shown as having their sections partly folded toward opposite sides of the spring;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of the same showing the crib in its completely folded position, the usual mattress being omitted;

VFig- 4: is a vertical transverse section of the crib taken on the dotted line 4.--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding section, but` showing the side frame in its lower position Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through one corner portion of the crib taken on the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, partly broken away, through the corresponding corner portion of the crib taken on the dotted line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through a portion of the crib and is presented to illustrate the position of the tubular sleeves through which the vertical end rods of the side frame extend when said side frame is in its folded position.

In the drawings, 10 designates a rectangular angle iron frame of rigid character and constituting the side rails 11 and end rails 12, the latter receiving the customary spring 13 of any suitable type upon which a mattress, not shown, may be supported. The side frames of the bed are designated by the numeral 14 and the end frames by the numeral 15, the side frames comprising upper and lower rods 16, 17 and vertical connecting rods 18, the ends of the rod 16 of each side frame being bent downwardly to form hooks 19, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ends of the rod 17 of each side frame terminating adjacent to the end vertical rods 18. The end vertical rods 18 extend through reasonably short sleeves or tubes 20 and said end rods 18 below said sleeves 20 extend through collars 21 which are pivotally secured, as at 22, to the vertical angle iron bars 23 secured to the side rails 11 of the CIK frame 10. Thel side frames 14 by reason Yof the collars 21 become hinged to thegeneral bed structure and are rendered capableof being folded toward and upon one another over the 'spring 13 and also of being slid vertically from the lower position thereof indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 to-their upper operative position shown by solid lineslin Fig. 1 and then when necessary back to the lower position illustrated by dotted lines. The end rods 18 are capableof sliding through .the sleeves or tubes 2() and collars 21, and hence during .their vertical movements do not strain or interfere with said sleeves or collars, but on the contrary are guided `and vcontrolled thereby. The collars 21 serve as stops for the ends of the rod 17 on ythe upward movement of the side frames 14 and thereby limit such upward movement, and the up erends of the sleeves or ,tubes 20 serve on being engaged by the rods 16 to limit the downwardmovement or descent of the side frames 14 when the latter are released at the hooks 19 to slide downwardly to their lower position. In :my aforesaid application the side frames of the crib may rhave a hinged movement, but are incapable of being slid downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines for the purpose of enabling a .nurse to .con- Y veniently reach an infant occupant of ythe bed. The` hooks 19 formed on the .ends of the upper rod 1G of each side. franie are adapted to enter apertured ears 24 fastened to .those portions of the end framesY 15 which maybe called the cornerposts. W/hen the sides 14 are folded upwardly and outwardly to their vertical position'. shown in Fig. 1 by solid lines, the said fra-Ines may be elevated sufliciently to .enable the hooks 19 to be placed over the ears 24Y and moved downwardly throughthe apertures in said: ears, thereby securingV the side frames in vertical operative position.l `When the side frameshave been turned upwardly and the hooks 19 passed downwardly through the ears 24, 1 secure the side framesl against vertical movement, such as a vigorous child might possibly be able to, give to them, by means of wire hooks,v 25 swiveled upon the lower rod 17 of each side frame and adapted at its lower end to bev caught under the lower edge of the side rail member 11 of theframe 10T The hook 25 may be made from a rod of wire doubled upon itself and straddling one of the rods 18, as show n in Fig. 1, this construction,andarrangement of the hook keeping the. latter in fixed posi, tion on the rods 17. /Vhen it is desired to fold the. side frame 14 downwardly upon the mattress or spring, the hook 25, willv be disengaged from the side member and the frame-14 then elevated upwardly until the hooks 19 .leave theY apertured ears 24, where upon .the side 14, mayv be foldedv downwardly withoutV obstruction, andthe same steps will be performed as to the release of the side frame 14 when it is desired to allow said frame to slide downward-ly to its `lower position, shown by dotted lines `in Fig. 1. The hooks 25 hold the side frames 14,when said `frames are .in their operative position downwardly to such an extent that said frames 14 cannot be elevated to release the hooks 19 from the ears 24, but when the hooks 25 are disengaged from the side rail members 11, there is suificientffreedombetween the ends ofthe rods 1:7 and the hinged collars 21 topermit the sideA frames 14 to .be elevated to a vsufficient extent to retract the hooks 19 from the ears 24, thus releasing the side frames Vto be folded inwardly and downwardly or lowered vertically at will.. The hinged collars 21 and sleeves or tubes:

20 are novel. features pertaining to .the pres ent application and `permit not only of the side frames being folded downwardly and inwardly over the ymattressfor spring, but also of having a vertical movement.

On what may be termed the corner postsof the end frames 15 are rigidly secured plates 0r lugs 26, which are so .disposed that when the side frames 14 are in ytheir lower position the ends of the upper sideA frame rods 16 are in linetherewith and at'the` outer side thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. The lugs or plates 26prevent the upper portion of the., side frames from being pressed inwardly,-a result which might injure a child lying upon the bed or the shins of a nurse or other person standing at or leaning over the sideof the bed or crib.. Any outward, pressure against the upper portion ofa side framei 14 when .said frame lis in its. lower position will be resisted by thecontact of .the vertical rods 18 against the side 'railfmember 11 of the framelO, and thus the side rail :members 11 and lugs or plates v2,6l cooperate with each other to prevent objectionable swinging movement of the side frames 14. V The end frames 15A correspondlwith each other' and each comprises an upper section. 27 and a lower 0r leg section` 28, the upper sections 27 of said endv frames constituting head and foot frames and beingrof any suiftable design. The sections 27, 28 are respectively provided adjacent to` their meetingV portions, at the joint 29, with inwardly eX* tending plates 30,4 31, which arev pivotally connected together at their'inner ends by a v120 to the vertical angle bars or posts 23, and when the parts of the crib are in their unfolded operative position, the outer ends of the links 35 are slightly below the inner ends of said links, this having a tendency to aid in holding the end frames of the bed in their upright position during the time that the sides 14 are being positioned. When the upper sections 27 of the end frames are folded toward each other and upon the then folded sides 14, the outer ends of the links 35 ride upwardly above the horizontal plane of the pivots 36, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said links during a portion of the inwardly closing movement of the sections 27 moving upwardly at their outer ends and then during the linal closing movement of said sections 27 turning downwardly to some extent, as will be understood by a comparative reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

The plates 30, 31 extend inwardly7 with their adjacent edges in horizontal alinement and in engagement with each other when the crib is in unfolded condition for use, as shown in Fig. 1, the joint between the leaves or plates 30, 31 being in line with the joint 29 or abutting ends of the frame sections 27, 28, and when the parts of the crib are in folded position, as shown in Fig. 3, those edges of the plates 30, 31 which formerly -abutted, stand in vertical alinement.

The legs 28 at each end of the bed are mounted on swiveled casters 37, and said legs at each end of the bed or crib are connected by a transverse bar 38, to which casters 39 are secured, the casters 39 being suitably above the lower ends of the legs and adapted when the legs are folded under the frame 10 to engage the floor, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and inally support the folded crib or bed. The casters 39 serve as rollers upon which the crib after having' been folded may be rolled under a bed or across the room or elsewhere. The casters 39 also aid the attendant in moving the bed to its unfolded position, said casters rolling on the floor until about the time that the casters 37 may, during such unfolding operation, engage the floor. The casters 39 are preferably somewhat larger in diameter than the casters 37.

In 'Fig'. 1 I illustrate the crib in unfolded position for use and with the vertically movable side frame 14 secured in its upper position. When it is desired that a child upon the crib may be reached by a nurse or other person, the side frame 14 may be slid downwardly to the position in which it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus exposing the interior of the crib. When it is desired to permit the side frame 14 to take its lower position, the attendant will free the hook 25 from the side rail 11 and then sufficiently elevate the side frame 14 to free the hooks 19 from the ears 24, and thereupon the side frame may be allowed to lower, the end rods 18 sliding downwardly through the sleeves or tubes 20. I have explained hereinbefore that the side frame 14 when in its lowei` position is prevented from having a swinging movement by reason of the engagement of the ends of the rods 16 with the ears 26 and the near relation of the lower portions of said frame with the side rail 11 of the frame 10. When it is desired to restore the side frame 14 to operative position, said side frame is simply moved upwardly and the hooks 19 are inserted downwardly through the ears 24 and thereupon the hook 25 is fastened upon the side rail 11.V

When it is desired to fold the crib, the first step will be to disengage the hooks 25 from the side rails 11 and then elevate said sides, one after another, to retract the hooks 19 from the ears 24, folding said sides one upon the other downwardly upon the spring 13 or the usual mattress if that should be upon the spring, and thereupon the upper ends of the end frames 15 may be forced toward each other, and this will cause the upper sections .27 of said frames to fold downwardly toward each other and upon the then folded sides 14 and the lowersections 28 of said frames 15 to fold toward each other and below the spring 13, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3. Vhen it is desired to unfold the parts of the crib to restore it to condition for use, the attendant may take hold of the then adjacent ends of the frame sections 27 and turn said sections upwardly and outwardly from each other, this having the effect of causing the lower or leg sections 28 to turn downwardly and outwardly from each other until finally said sections 27 28 reach their vertical position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5; thereafter the attendant will disengage the hooks 25 if they have been engaged with the side rails 11, and turn the sides 14 upwardly into vertical position, lifting said sides 14 when in vertical position to engage the hooks 19 with the ears 24. Thereafter the hooks 25 will be connected with the side rails 11.

As means for facilitating the unfolding of the sections of the end frames 15, I preferably provide at each corner of the crib a' spring 40 secured at one end to a side rail 11 of the frame 10 and at the other end to the plate 31; the springs 40 are placed under tension or stretched during the folding movement of the members of the end frames 15, and hence act during the unfoldinomovement of said members as power to ai the operator in restoring the crib to condition for use.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A crib comprising a general spring and mattress supporting frame, end frames, sides, means for permitting one of said sides to slide vertically, and means for securing said .side in its ,upper operative positioin,

said means -for permitting said sideto slide vertically comprising standards :rigidly sefM ouredito and projeotingsaborve the side; of

said frame A and ysleeves piyotally connectedy with the uppery ends ofsaid ,standardsand extending; upwardly above .the same and freely reeeivingthe end ioclsof, sa1d side land,

beingof sufiieient length ytoibe engaged' at,- their ,upper endsgby the. upperrrod of said sideivhenithe ,side is lQWered andto suspend@ saidsidegin .its lower positionat a substantial,y

distance above .the floor, V

2. A erib comprising a general` spring-,and i mattress .Supportingiframe.endfremeSTS/ides means forvperrnittingone ofsaid sides to slide, vertially, and means for securing., said side,

in rits upper ,operative position, i said.y `means for,,1:)erinit't11igisaldiside to slide vertically con)prisingstandards secured to and proj eet?,

ing-,above the side of said traine and ,sleeves f piuoftally conneeted l with lthe upper.. ends tof..4

upperv rod e of saidv side when. the:- side` lis low-f ered; andtov suspendsaid side in its louferposition above thezoonand the-eorner-posts Copies of this,'patent,ma.y,be obtainedfo1 velcents each, by addressingthe fcommssioner prPatents,

offsaid end iraines hayingilaterally.projeetends otsaidupper ,rodwhen said side is in sides, means .fon permitting; @neef said sides ,mattress supportingg4 franie,-. endffrairiesp to slide vertically,-y and'; means, vforl engaging; l

the ends of tlieaipper,rodiof` said side With.y

the corner posts of saidend-fraines, Asaid means for V,permitting said -sideitoislide Verf.

, ticallyficoinprising,standards secured onand projectingeiabove. the,y side.of said general frame,` collars. swiveled to the upper'ends-f of said standards, andsleeves adaptedfto f reston said eollars freely xand reelyreoeivY-i ing theend rods of, said side .and beingmof.

suitable lengthto beengagedfat their upper E ends by the upper rod of said, side; Whenthe side is lowered and to suspend. said sider innv lits lower/position abovethe floor.

Signed.y at-zBrooldyn, in .the county of- Kings and .Stateiof Newl Yorlg-*this 29thl day of October, A. D.,l91i3.1.`

JQSEPHBASILE.: Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARION. (l1-IAS. C. GiLIn Washington, D. C. 

